At 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms Park is one of America’s largest urban parks!

  Shelby Farms Park has more than 20 lakes and ponds, more than 40 miles of trails, and a variety of animal and plant species that call the Park, “home.”

  Shelby Farms Park Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that manages and operates Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline.

About Shelby Farms Park

This lesson will review: Five animal groups classified as vertebrates Life cycles of vertebrates

VertebratesVertebrates are animals that have a backbone and skeletal system. A backbone can also be called a spine, spinal column, or vertebral column. The individual bones that make up a backbone are called vertebrae.

VertebratesThere are 5 major groups of animals classified as vertebrates.

Can you identify the 5 groups based on these pictures?

VertebratesFish

Amphibians

Reptiles

Birds

Mammals

VertebratesLet’s investigate the backbones and skeletal systems

of vertebrates. Which group of animals does this skeleton belong to?

VertebratesThis is the skeleton of a fish. Notice the different bones that make up its skeleton. Can you find its backbone?

VertebratesAmphibians, like the newt in this picture, also have

backbones. In the drawing on the right, find where the newt’s backbone starts and ends.

VertebratesThis picture shows the skeleton of a turtle. Turtles are

classified as reptiles. Try to locate the turtle’s backbone.

VertebratesThis picture shows the inside of the upper portion (carapace) of a snapping turtle shell. Locate the vertebrae present in this shell. You can also see the turtle’s ribs. Do you think a turtle loses its shell to find a new one?No – a turtle’s shell is part of its body, so the shell grows with the turtle!

VertebratesThis picture shows the skeleton of a lizard. Lizards are also

classified as reptiles. Locate the lizard’s skull (head) to find the start of the backbone. Trace the vertebrae bones

from the base of its skull into its tail.

VertebratesBirds also have backbones and skeletal systems.

Find the skull and backbone in the drawing of the bird.Check out the duck skull in the picture on the right.

VertebratesApply your knowledge - This is a picture of a bobcat.

Bobcats are mammals. Does this animal have a backbone?

VertebratesYes – Bobcats have backbones because they are

vertebrates like other mammals. Its vertebrae bones start at the base of its skull and are present through its tail.

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

If you are interested in learning about the characteristics of the five groups of vertebrates, check out the following Learn + Play lessons: Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals.

The remaining portion of this lesson will review life cycles of vertebrates.

Life Cycles of VertebratesAnimals in the five groups of vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) all experience birth, growth, reproduction, and death. However, many differences exist throughout these processes.

Do you think these two animals have similar stages of growth and development?

Life Cycles of VertebratesNo – Even though these animals appear similar, they have very different stages of growth and development. The animal in the top picture is a newt. Newts are amphibians. The animal in the bottom picture is a skink. Skinks are reptiles. Most amphibians undergo a process called metamorphosis whereas fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals typically do not.

Life Cycles of VertebratesFish, reptiles, birds, and mammals are usually described as having simple life cycles. After these animals are born, they already start to resemble their parents. During their youth, these animals look similar to their parents but are smaller.

Example – Look at the picture of this animal. Predict whether this animal is a fish, reptile, bird, or mammal.

Life Cycles of VertebratesIf you predicted that this animal in the top picture is a bird, you are correct!

Now look at the picture of the mallard with her ducklings. Identify features that the ducklings and their mother have in common (such as their beaks). Even though the color and pattern of the ducklings’ feathers look different from their mother’s feathers, the ducklings can still be identified as birds.

Life Cycles of VertebratesTry to answer the following based on the animal in this photo:

- Predict whether this animal is a fish, reptile, bird, or mammal.

- Which features help identify this animal?

- Do you think there are any differences between this animal and its parents?

Life Cycles of VertebratesThe animals in these photos are mammals, specifically buffalo (American bison) at Shelby Farms Park. An important feature that helps identify these animals as mammals is the presence of fur. The babies have reddish-orange fur and have not grown their horns yet. The adults have brown fur and have horns. Even though there are some noticeable differences, the baby still resembles its parent.

How are amphibians different than fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals? Most amphibians undergo a process of transformation called metamorphosis. Because of this process, a newly born amphibian typically does not resemble its parents.   This diagram shows the stages of metamorphosis in a frog from an egg to an adult.

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

Life Cycle Stages of an Amphibian  Egg – Amphibians lay their eggs in water or moist areas because their eggs would dry out if they were laid on dry land. Some females will actually keep their eggs in their body or on their skin instead of laying their eggs on land.  Larval Stage – After hatching from an egg, amphibians live in water during this stage and use gills to absorb oxygen into their bodies. Adult – As they transform into adults, most amphibians develop lungs, grow legs, and are able to live on land.

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

Use this diagram to learn the life cycle stages of a frog. Start at the eggs and rotate counter-clockwise (towards the tadpole) around the circle.

  Egg – A female frog lays her eggs in water or a moist area.

  Larval Stage – During this stage, the animal is called a tadpole. It lives in water and has gills.

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

 Adult – In this diagram, notice how the tadpole begins to grow legs. Intermediate stages between the tadpole and the adult frog are identified as “a tadpole with legs” and “a froglet.” Due to these intermediate stages, four or more stages are often diagrammed in the life cycle of a frog. The adult frog is the final stage.

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

Before learning about the metamorphosis of frogs, would you have predicted that a tadpole eventually develops into a frog? Tadpoles live in water, have a tail, and use gills to absorb oxygen. Frogs have four legs, live on land, do not have a tail, and develop lungs. Tadpoles do not physically resemble their parents (frogs). Because of metamorphosis, it is common for amphibian babies to look different from their parents and even live in different habitats!

Life Cycles of Vertebrates

Thanks for learning!Now test your knowledge in the Vertebrate Craft Project

that can be downloaded and printed from our website at shelbyfarmspark.org/learn

Thanks to International Paper for helping make education programs at Shelby Farms Park possible.